Men&#39;s suit type jacket with concealable button fastener



Oct. 10, 1967 L. IANNUCCI 3,345,644

MEN'S SUIT TYPE JACKET WITH CONCEALABLE BUTTON FASTENER Filed May 12, 1966 INVENTOR LUIGI IANNUGI ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,345,644 MENS SUIT TYPE JACKET WITH CONCEALABLE BUTTON FASTENER Luigi Iannucci, 12055 Barlow, Detroit, Mich. 48205 Filed May 12, 1966, Ser. No. 549,587 3 Claims. (Cl. 2-96) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A suit type jacket having a pair of front panels whose edges define the front opening of the jacket, with an integral button-hole tab formed on one of the panels for receiving a button secured to the other panel, the tab being alternatively positionable either behind its panel for concealing the button or extended from its panel to increase the girth of the jacket.

Mens suit type jackets, such as suit jackets and sport coats and the like, are conventionally formed with at least one fastener button on one of its front panels with a button hole formed on the opposite panel in order to close the front of the jacket. In such construction, when the jacket is buttoned the button is visible on the front of the jacket.

An object of this invention is to provide such a jacket With a button-hole tab configuration which forms part of and is integral with the usual button hole panel and which may be folded back of such panel to receive the button of the opposite panel for concealing such button so that when the jacket is closed and buttoned, it appears to have no buttons at all and presents a smooth, finished front, unmarred by button holes or buttons, while in addition, being foldable outwardly into a position Where the button is visible but wherein the girth of the jacket is enlarged due to the extension of the button hole beyond the normal location thereof.

A further object of this invention is to provide a onebutton jacket of the type described above which is so formed and styled that the button may be concealed altogether in one position or alternatively the button may be exposed while presenting a curved, stylized formation, at the front waist area of the jacket.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent upon reading the following description, of which the attached drawings form a part.

In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the two front panels of the mens suit type jacket with the but ton hole tab shown exposed.

FIG. 2 is a view, similar to FIG. 1, of the button hole panel of the jacket only with the button hole tab folded behind to conceal the button.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken in the direction of arrows 3-3 of FIG. I, but showing the button engaged within the button hole.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken as if in the direction of arrows 44, but showing the button engaged within its button hole and concealed.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a jacket with the button tab exposed and receiving the button.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but with the button hole tab folded behind to thus present a clean, smooth buttonless exterior.

FIG. 7 shows a modification in which a second button, with a button supporting tab, is provided.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the jacket 10 is conventionally formed with the usual back panels, front panels 11 and 13, sleeves, collar, and pockets, etc.

In addition, the jacket has a button 12 fastened at the waist of the panel 11 in the usual way. Although more 3,345,644 Patented Oct. 10, 1967 than one button can be used, preferably only one is used for better appearance.

The improvement herein relates to the arrangement of the button hole for receiving the button 12. Thus, an outwardly curved tab 14 is formed integral with and extends away from the panel 13, being made of the same cloth, cut at the same time, so that in all respects it appears to be an integral extension of the panel 13. Referring to FIG. 1, the dotted line 15 indicates the normal edge of the jacket panel, as it would normally appear if there were no tab, to thus highlight the positioning of the tab.

The tab 14 is provided with a conventional button hole 16 and in addition is provided with :a snap-fastener half 17 adjacent its outer or free end. Such snap-fastener half is on the rear of the tab and is arranged to engage a corresponding snap-fastener half 18 fastened at the rear of the panel 13.

The tab, when positioned as shown in FIG. 1, is arranged so that the button 12 passes through and engages the button hole 16 (see FIG. 3). The conventional thread 19, normally used for sewing the button upon its panel 11, extends through the button hole 16.

In that position, the jacket appears, as shown in FIG. 5, with a stylized curved front edge on the panel 13 and in addition, an expansion of the girth or waist of the jacket, which is frequently desirable even in a well fitted jacket where the wearer fills the inside breast pockets, thus maintaining the smooth lines of the jacket.

As shown in FIG. 2, the tab may be folded back behind its panel 13 with the snap-fasteners 17-18 interengaged to hold the tab in place. This restores the smooth, vertical line 15 of the panel 13. Then, when the button is secured 16 (see FIG. 4) the button is completely concealed so that the now buttoned jacket gives the appearance shown in FIG. 6, namely, a buttonless or smooth front jacket.

The wearer of the jacket may alternatively wear it in either of the two styles and may easily switch from one style to the next as desired.

Although the tab is shown in FIG. 2 as being secured in its place by means of snap fasteners, alternate types of mechanical fasteners may be used, such as small loop and button connections or a tack stitch where more permanency is desired.

FIG. 7 illustrates a modification, in which button panel 11 is provided with an integral tab 20 upon which a second button 21 is sewn. The tab may be folded rear- Wardly of its panel along fold line 22 (as shown in dotted lines) and fastened, by means of tab fastener half 23 being secured to its cooperative fastener half 24, in back of its panel. Hence, the wearer may use either button 12 or else button 20 for expansion of the girth of the jacket and button 20 may be concealed as desired.

This invention may be further developed within the scope of the following claims. Accordingly, it is desired that the foregoing description be read as being merely illustrative of an operative embodiment of this invention, and not in a strictly limited sense.

Having fully described an operative embodiment of this invention, I now claim:

1. In a mans suit type jacket including a first and a second front panel, the panels having approximately vertical, front meeting edges, and a button secured to the first of said panels adjacent its front edge at about the Waist of the jacket, the improvement comprising:.

a button hole tab formed integral with the second of said panels, out of the same cloth, and extending towards the first panel from the line which normally defines the front edge of the second panel;

the tab being horizontally aligned with said button and having a button hole formed therein for receiving said button;

said tab being foldable about said line for positioning in back of the second panel, for alternatively receiving said button behind the second panel, and thereby concealing the button to simulate a buttonless fastening;

a fastener part secured to said tab adjacent to its free end, and a cooperating fastener part secured upon the back of said second panel, for holding said tab in position upon the back of the second panel.

2. In a mans suit type jacket including a first and a second front panel, the panels, having approximately vertical, front meeting edges, and a button secured to the first of said panels adjacent its front edge at about the Waist of the jacket, the improvement comprising:

a button hole tab formed integral with the second of said panels, out of the same cloth, and extending towards the first panel from the line which normally defines the front edge of the second panel;

the tab being horizontally aligned with said button and having a button hole formed therein for receiving said button;

said tab being foldable about said line for positioning in back of the second panel, for alternatively receiving said button behind the second panel, and thereby concealing the button to simulate a buttonless fastening;

a button tab formed integral with said first panel and a second button secured to said button tab in horizontal alignment with said first mentioned button for selective use with said button hole.

3. A jacket as defined in claim 2 and said button tab being foldable about the line defining the normal front edge of the first panel, in back of the first panel, for concealing said second button; and fastener means for holding said button tab in its folded position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,083,209 12/1913 Granstron 296 2,083,121 6/1937 Oberrender 2+102 2,189,187 2/1940 Turun'en 2--96 RICHARD J. SCANLAN, JR., Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A MAN''S SUIT TYPE JACKET INCLUDING A FIRST AND A SECOND FRONT PANEL, THE PANELS HAVING APPROXIMATELY VERTICAL, FRONT MEETING EDGES, AND A BUTTON SECURED TO THE FIRST OF SAID PANELS ADJACENT ITS FRONT EDGE AT ABOUT THE WAIST OF THE JACKET, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: A BUTTON HOLE TAB FORMED INTEGRAL WITH THE SECOND OF SAID PANELS, OUT OF THE SAME CLOTH, AND EXTENDING TOWARDS THE FIRST PANEL FROM THE LINE WHICH NORMALLY DEFINES THE FRONT EDGE OF THE SECOND PANEL; THE TAB BEING HORIZONTALLY ALIGNED WITH SAID BUTTON AND HAVING A BUTTON HOLE FORMED THEREIN FOR RECEIVING SAID BUTTON; SAID TAB BEING FOLDABLE ABOUT SAID LINE FOR POSITIONING IN BACK OF THE SECOND PANEL, FOR ALTERNATELY RECEIVING SAID BUTTON BEHIND THE SECOND PANEL, AND THEREBY CONCEALING THE BUTTON TO SIMULATE A BUTTONLESS FASTENING; A FASTENER PART SECURED TO SAID TAB ADJACENT TO ITS FREE END, AND A COOPERATING FASTENER PART SECURED UPON THE BACK OF SAID SECOND PANEL, FOR HOLDING SAID TAB IN POSITION UPON THE BACK OF THE SECOND PANEL. 